BANGKOK, THAILAND – A mother in Bangkok said her domestic worker secretly mixed a substance into her two-year-old child’s drinking bottle, but the suspect was released after a court deadline passed due to missing documents.
The allegation: substance in a baby bottle
According to the mother, known as “Khun Yok”, the case began when she filed a complaint after discovering that a household helper had allegedly put something into her baby’s drinking bottle without her knowledge. She stated that CCTV footage existed which allegedly captured the entire incident. The recording was said to show what happened on 26 December 2025.
The family treated the material as key evidence and handed it over to the police as part of the criminal complaint. The mother’s account indicated that the video was central to her belief that the child had been put at risk.
Police investigation and past incidents
In her account, the mother wrote that a background check revealed the woman had previously been implicated in theft cases at a hospital and in a condominium. Based on this information and the new allegation, the police reportedly opened two charges against the suspect.
Officers then brought the woman before the court on 30 December 2025 to decide on pre-trial detention. The mother described the initial pace of the investigation as unexpectedly swift.
Three months later: suspect back on the street
On 3 April 2026, the mother posted an update on Facebook stating that the suspect had been released after three months. She also referred to her appearance on the Thai television programme “Hon Krasae”, where she had discussed the case.
She wrote that, at first, the procedural steps had seemed to move quickly and efficiently. Over time, however, she said that momentum slowed as authorities waited for additional documents.
Where the process stalled: missing files and deadlines
According to the report, the responsible investigator collected evidence and forwarded the file to the public prosecutor, who ordered further questioning. In addition, documents were requested from the Ramathibodi Poison Center to assess the danger posed by the substances detected in the bottle.
The specialised assessment was meant to clarify how hazardous the alleged substance could have been for a small child. Until this evaluation arrived, the case file remained incomplete.
Release due to time limit: maximum 48 days
The mother said she later learned that pre-trial detention at this stage could last a maximum of 48 days. If the case was not submitted to the court in time, the suspect had to be released.
When she asked for clarification, prosecutors reportedly told her they were still waiting for documents from the police, while the police in turn pointed to the pending response from the Poison Center. This back-and-forth, she wrote, contributed to the delay that allowed the detention period to lapse.
Months of waiting without an answer
According to the mother, even weeks later the requested documents had still not arrived. She said the police followed up twice with the relevant office.
She also wrote that her own attempts to make contact by phone and through official Line channels went unanswered. The lack of response left the family feeling that the process was stalled without clear explanation.
Public safety concerns: changing jobs, no fixed address
The mother described it as particularly distressing that the suspect was already working again as a domestic helper and appeared to change jobs frequently. In her view, this raised concerns that other families might be exposed to risk.
She further claimed that the woman had no fixed registered address, which could make it more difficult to deliver future summonses. If the suspect did not appear, she warned, this could delay further steps such as the issue of arrest warrants.
“Delayed justice is denied justice”
In her post, the mother questioned whether an appropriate punishment could be expected given the seriousness of the allegation and criticised the delays in the proceedings.
“Delayed justice is denied justice.”
said the mother, describing her family as still deeply affected emotionally. She warned that if sanctions did not follow in a timely manner, the risk of similar incidents recurring could increase.